page_title: ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk
section_title: A-4SU and TA-4SU Super Skyhawk
hierarchical_section_title: ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk / Design and development / A-4SU and TA-4SU Super Skyhawk
caption_attribution_description: English: A TA-4SU Skyhawk mock up on display at the stand of Singapore Aircraft Industries (SAI) at Asian Aerospace (AA), 30 January 1988.
context_page_description: The ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk is a major upgrade project of the Douglas A-4S Skyhawk attack aircraft undertaken by Singapore Aircraft Industries in the 1980s. It was used exclusively by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, serving in the fighter-bomber role from 1989 until retirement from front line service in 2005. Since mid-1999, the A-4SU took on the additional role of being the designated advanced jet trainer aircraft for the RSAF's AJT training program/detachment in Cazaux, France.
context_section_description: In 1985, as a result of four A-4S being written off in separate accidents, coupled with the low serviceability of the original batch of A-4S. Investigations conducted by RSAF reveal that although there was plenty of fuselage life left, the Wright J65 turbojet engines in use by the Skyhawks was too old and the associated spare parts were becoming both difficult and expensive to obtain. Consequently, the RSAF decided to upgrade the A-4S/TA-4S rather than to replace them.
  With SAI contracted as the main contractor for the upgrading project and a non-afterburning General Electric F404-GE-100D turbofan engine selected as the new engine, the upgrading project would later be extended to cover the entire fleet of newer A-4S-1s as well as taking the opportunity to completely modernize the avionics package (newly installed equipment now included a Pave Penny laser seeker mounted in the nose, an Inertial navigation system (INS), a Tactical air navigation system (TACAN), fore & aft Radar warning receivers (RWR) and chaff/flare countermeasures) of the aircraft.
  The modernized A-4SU and TA-4SU versions with its new F404 turbofan engine had 29% more thrust, which resulted in a 30% reduction in takeoff time as well as an increase in usable payload, range and maximum speed. The maximum speed now at sea level is 610 knots (1,130 km/h; 700 mph), and maximum cruise speed at 30,000 feet (9,100 m) is 446 knots (826 km/h; 513 mph).
caption: A full scale TA-4SU mock-up on display at the stand of Singapore Aircraft Industries (SAI) at the 1988 Asian Aerospace exhibition
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